They say college is the “best four years of your life.”  It’s full of exciting opportunities for freedom, personal growth, and a fresh start. In college, students have the chance to explore new interests, forge lifelong friendships, and enjoy a social scene filled with parties and events. But what happens when you begin to slowly realize that these so-called “best four years of your life” are the complete opposite of what you expected and wanted? What are you supposed to do when you no longer feel like yourself and your environment becomes damaging to your mental health?

At the start of this semester, I was assigned a group project for my health psychology class. As my group and I began to dive into the project, I quickly formed a bond with one of my group members, Bailey Kaysa. In getting to know her, I learned about the transformative year she took off from school to work at Yosemite National Park. Hearing about her time away sparked my interest and I found myself wanting to learn more about her experience. I was eager to know what ultimately led her to deciding to leave college life for a year.

“My mental health was not in a good place, my social circle was very toxic, and my professors treated me very unprofessionally. My academic advisor would stop me in the halls and berate me, telling me “I wasn’t doing enough” and that I “needed to show him I was putting in the effort.” He would have these conversations in the middle of the hall where every other student could see. He would leave me crying after these conversations because I couldn’t keep it together. I would feel embarrassed, confused, and like I just wanted to melt away.  I had so much anxiety my last semester at TLU, I could barely leave my room. I couldn’t go to class because I was so anxious about my professor stopping me only to tell me that I wasn’t good enough.”

Bailey Kaysa

A Fresh Start…

When asking Bailey what made her choose Yosemite, she shared that she was feeling unfulfilled and ultimately just wanted a change. She sent out applications to different national parks across the country and heard back from Yosemite first. Within a week she was packing her belongings in San Antonio and driving across the country to her new home in California. She shared that she had wanted to work in a park for a few years and once the opportunity arose she said yes with no hesitation.

Moving across the country can be a roller coaster of emotions and can leave you with many fears and concerns. Navigating a whole new life comes with unique challenges and ways of resolving them.

“I was really scared because my life was now full of endless possibilities. I became very obsessed with making the “right” decision. When I didn’t come back to TLU, I lost all of my friends. I was supposed to live with someone, and they had a lot of resentment about me not coming back. There are many things I wish I could have handled differently in the time from June 2023 to March 2023, but everything that happened brought me to Yosemite and that changed my life. I don’t dwell on the past because I am a different person.”

Bailey Kaysa

Bailey shared her experience of working as a barista at Degnan’s Deli, where she would wake up at 5:00 AM every day and work until around 2:00. She would then join her friends and spend the rest of the day climbing, hiking, biking, or going to the river. 

When reflecting on her most memorable experience during her time in Yosemite, her face lit up.

“I climbed the route “Snake Dike” up Half Dome with my friend Brogan. We left at 4:00 AM and didn’t get back till 11:00 PM. It was a total of 20 miles of hiking and 2,000 ft of climbing. We ran out of food and water, so we were eating snow at the top of the peak. I remember getting the tiniest bit of service when we were walking back, so I called my friend Diego and got him to pick us up at the trailhead. He said that he tried to joke with us, but we were all completely dead. My roommate Ella had also gotten us pizza, so we ate our pizza in silence once we got back, and then we all passed out.”

Bailey Kaysa

A Time for Self Reflection

Kaysa said that this year-long self-growth journey taught her independence and helped her find the strength within herself. During her time in the park she quickly learned how to become more trusting of others and look at anyone she meets as a potential new friend. Although she was only there a few months, she is able to look back at all the crazy adventures she shared with people that she had only known for a short time. Her stories and memories at the park put a whole new meaning to the saying “you only live once.” 

When reflecting on her time away and the impact it had on her academic performance, Bailey said she had a new outlook on her education. 

“This year I recognized the importance of building relationships with my professors. I went to talk with my psych professors way more than I have in the past, but I think it is because they are better people in general than my previous professors. It has helped me become more focused on what I want in my life and from my life. I am a highly motivated person, so that focus has helped me lock in to my studies because I know what I need to do to achieve what I want in the future.”

Bailey Kaysa

After moving back home and starting classes again at TLU, Bailey says that her experiences at Yosemite have a direct impact on her life now. She’s eager to see where the next few years of her life will take her. As far as what’s next, she will be living her best life doing seasonal work throughout the United States, with her first stop being Colorado, where she will spend the season working as a liftie.

Kaysa knows that there are many other students out there feeling lost, unfulfilled, or even disappointed in their college experience and wants others to know that it’s perfectly fine to get a fresh start.

“We are young, and it is our time to make mistakes, learn, and experience things. If you have an idea for your life that you want, and you need to take time off to do that, go for it, because waiting is not worth it. Slowing down if for our thirties, not now.”

Bailey Kaysa

Bailey’s story is the perfect example of how taking a year off from college can be a rewarding time in one’s life. Her time away from the traditional academic experience allowed her to gain valuable life lessons, foster self-growth, and develop a newfound perspective on her future. It serves as a reminder that education is not confined to the classroom; sometimes, stepping outside of our comfort zones can lead to the most profound learning experiences. For anyone contemplating a pause in their academic journey, remember: it’s perfectly okay to take a step back and explore the world. The lessons learned during that time can shape your path forward in ways you may never have imagined.